Building Renovation Project
Auburn Public Theater (APT) is renovating our building and expanding our performance spaces! With these renovations, APT has the opportunity to be sustainable as Auburn’s downtown arts center for generations to come! The project includes: the complete renovation of our 13,000 sf lower level to create a large, flexible event space (700 standing/300 seated), 100-seat black box theater and the Auburn Music Hall of Fame; an updated exterior façade with digital marquees and signage for improved visibility on our main street (Genesee St.); a street-level café featuring locally sourced fare including Auburn’s very own coffee roaster, Simple Roast.
ONLY 1 MONTH LEFT TO REACH OUR FOUNDATION MATCH GOAL!
Auburn Public Theater is fast approaching our February 28th deadline to raise the $600,000 one-to-one match toward the $600,000 New York State Regional Economic Development Council grant we were awarded at the end of 2017. We are over 90% of the way to our fundraising goal! Our local and regional foundation partners, Fred L. Emerson Foundation, Allyn Foundation, Schwartz Foundation, The Columbian Foundation, Stanley W. Metcalf Foundation and D.E. French Foundations will generously match all donations received by February 28th, 2019. We are less than 10% ($50K) away! Please help us do our part to make sure YOUR Public Theater is here serving Auburn and all of Central New York, expanding the arts and bringing people downtown.
ABOUT APT
If you’ve been curious enough to get to this page, we know that you’re interested in supporting all of the benefits Auburn Public Theater provides to the community. As we move into our 13th season, we continue to provide affordable access to the arts for all with a diverse slate of theater, cinema and education programming. We also do this…
· Administer the re-granting of $150,000 through state programs to arts organizations and artists in our community and the five counties surrounding it every year.
· We provide on-going after-school arts classes to students in local schools, community centers and at our theater; Nearly all of these classes are free or tuition-assisted.
· We partner with over 50 community organizations to offer free or low cost rental rates.
· Since our inception, we’ve been working closely with the local recovery community to provide volunteer hours, training and jobs to those seeking a second chance.
APT received the 26,000 sf former Grants Department Store building through a donation by two of its founders. Up until this year, we have only been able to renovate and utilize one half of our available building space. And so we have begun our Capital Expansion Project.
· Complete renovation of our lower level in order to provide for the community 13,000 sf of space for rehearsals, community events and arts education. The highlight of this space is our anticipated Auburn Music Hall of Fame, which will honor local musicians who have distinguished themselves in the industry.
· Our exterior will be redesigned with a modern façade, unifying the whole building and providing the theater with increased visibility. A new entrance on Genesee Street configured with digital signage, awnings and marquees will provide access to the lower level spaces, upstairs cinema, studio and main stage theater.
· The acquisition and repurposing of our former ground‐level tenant space into a community café.
Upon completion of project in late 2019, APT and surrounding downtown businesses will benefit from the increased traffic and enhanced tourism these renovations will bring. The ability to take advantage of a fully renovated building can then generate the necessary income needed to sustain our organization for the long term. Expected outcomes include creating thirty planning and construction jobs during renovation and up to twenty permanent managerial, administrative and service jobs once renovation is completed. We estimate additional annual income of approximately $75-85k (café/stage operations: $50k; $25-35k lower floor programming and rental).
Our project
· Aligns with the priorities established by the New York State Regional Economic Council’s previously articulated vision for the area that enhances desirable downtown with a strong sense of place.
· Builds upon APT as an established anchor institution in downtown Auburn
· Is near other defined investments planned for downtown
· Includes significant job growth with a variety of skills and salaries.
· Enhances the attractiveness of downtown that includes public spaces for arts and culture.
· Provides additional affordable, diverse artistic and cultural offerings to the existing community and regionally.
· Attracts tourism. APT serves over 15,000 patrons per year. 65% of our audience is from outside Auburn, spending an average of $35-$50 dollars per visit. That’s bringing about $400,000 annually into our local economy.
· Attracts main street businesses and inspires entrepreneurs to invest and build in downtown.
· Provides community spaces to all ages and backgrounds
· Compliments the new Equal Rights Heritage Center located right next door.
· Is “shovel ready.”
· Has support from local foundations and community leaders.
· Grows the sales tax base.
· Provides amenities that support and enhance downtown living and quality of life.
· Provides income and sustainability for Auburn Public Theater!
Over the last year, we have raised generous support from many of our local and regional foundations. We have also been fortunate to be part of grant programs offered to both nonprofit and for profit organizations by New York State that encourage economic growth for our community...and now we need your help! Your generous donation will help us match state and foundation requirements and ensure that we make our $600,000 fundraising goal reachable.
Less than 10% left to go!
To every single one of you who has already contributed, please know that when we sit at our desks signing piles (yes, piles!) of thank you letters, we are overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. For those of you who have not yet contributed but intend to because you feel APT has impacted your life or the life of someone you love in a positive way, there is still time. Thank you for reading, thank you for contributing and thank you, especially, for making the shared dream of Auburn Public Theater a shared reality.
With gratitude,
Angela Daddabbo, Artistic Director
Carey Eidel, Executive Director
Auburn Public Theater is a 501 c-3 nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax deductible as allowed by law; please consult your accountant or attorney.
